Germany

September '06

Feature Article from Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car

TC Kline-Tuned BMW Z4 M Carbon Roadster
Few could fault the regular Z4 M Roadster as being underpowered. Its straight-six delivers 330 horsepower, and it will pin you to your seatback as it launches to 60 mph in about the time it takes to say "TC Kline-Tuned BMW Z4 M Roadster." This Ohio-based BMW tuner has come up with a way to make the M Roadster even more manic, and the solution is about as extreme as the performance potential. The BMW Z4 M Carbon Roadster has--as you may have guessed--a body crafted entirely in lightweight carbon fiber, with weight savings of 500 pounds over the standard 3,197-pound M Roadster. Not content to stop there, TC Kline has also flared the wheel arches, stuffing them full of new 19-inch alloys. Even the already potent engine has been subjected to some intelligent modifications, such as an aluminum flywheel and new stainless steel exhaust system. Peak horsepower is now rated at 346hp, according to TC Kline. Two suspension systems are offered, with one biased towards road manners, the other tuned for track days. If you're interested in what is, very likely, the ultimate interpretation of a Z4 Roadster, then be prepared to shell out close to $100,000. Production should begin this year, with no more than 100 produced. •
Power to the (Boxster Buying) People!
True to form, Porsche once again takes the slow and steady approach towards making a good thing even better. As of August 1, 2006, all Boxster and Boxster S roadsters benefit from a small bump in horsepower, along with several other refinements that keep the sharp-handling budget Porsche at the top of its game. Regular Boxsters equipped with the 2.7-liter flat-six now have five extra horsepower, bringing the total to 245hp. Amazingly, Porsche was able to also increase miles per gallon figures with this bump in power. As for the Boxster S, its own flat-six engine grows in size from 3.2 liters to 3.4 liters, developing 295hp at 6,250 rpm. This represents a 15-horsepower improvement, and is good enough to shave a tenth off the Boxster S's 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) time, which is now quoted as being 5.4 seconds. Porsche's VarioCam Plus valve control is now standard across the Boxster range, providing both variable valve timing and a changeover valve lift. Translation: It makes more power, while sipping less gas. We can live with that! The optional Tiptronic S semi-automatic transmission has also received changes. When equipped with the Sport Chrono Package, and in full-auto mode, up- and down-shifts are made only above 3,000 rpm. In manual mode, the transmission does not automatically shift for you should the engine revs slap against the redline. Optional 19-inch alloys--pilfered from the 911 Turbo--help sweeten the pot even further. Prices for the U.S. version of this sharper, more aggressive Boxster are yet to be finalized. •
Audi R10 Wins Le Mans
The biggest competition Audi had this year at Le Mans most likely came from within, due to the fact that the German company decided to make history and go for an outright win for a diesel-powered race car. And win they did: The two Audi R10 TDI cars, powered by a 650hp, 5.5-liter, V-12 TDI engine, were the race's fastest cars. They were also economical, with seven-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen able to cover 16 laps before needing fuel. The winning car was driven by Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner, while the second R10 came home third. Not far behind was the Pescarolo-Judd LMP1, though the biggest question was not whether the Pescarolo could catch the Audi, but whether Audi's bold effort would stumble mechanically, thereby allowing itself to get caught. It ran like clockwork, rewarding Audi with its sixth Le Mans win, and the first for a diesel-powered car. •
BMW Mini John Cooper Works GP - Sold Out
If you're reading this and you want a BMW MINI John Cooper Works GP, then you're already too late. Only 2,000 were produced, with close to 500 going to the hot-hatch-loving U.K. market. The John Cooper Works GP package is the fastest factory-tuned MINI up until now. And as well it should be, since the full Works GP kit adds almost 20-grand onto the sticker price. This wild 218-horse hatch scrambles its way to a 6.1-second 0-60 mph time. And judging by the model's showroom success, BMW may soon be scrambling to build many more of them. •

This article originally appeared in the September, 2006 issue of Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car.